Category Archives: Allergy Testin

Metal dental implants were originally made out of commercially pure titanium or titanium alloy, providing the only option for implant tooth restoration for many years. After years of study, we now know that placing metallic dental implants and other restorative devices can potentially provoke allergic reactions. One study involving 1,500 patients demonstrated that although rare, titanium allergy could be clearly detected in dental implant patients. One research paper published in 2010 indicated that “…the risk of an allergy to titanium is increased in patients who are allergic to other metals. In these patients, an evaluation of allergy is recommended, in order to exclude any problem with titanium medical devices.” Further research on the subject noted a higher risk of positive allergic reaction was found in patients whose implants failed for no other known reason other than that they had a higher incidence of allergic reaction.

Who cares about allergies?

Metal allergies are suspected by researchers and holistic dentists alike of being one of the most likely culprits behind the growing number of cases of autoimmune diseases in the United States including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Psoriasis, and Scleroderma, Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and many others. A correlation between metal allergies and a weakened immune system suggests that it is not only important but imperative to take the necessary precautions to ensure that patients are biocompatible before allowing any substance or material to be permanently affixed into the mouth.

There’s more to titanium than you might think

Screw and abutments used in dental implants can be made from the same alloy, but frequently a combination of alloys are used including small amounts of nickel and gold. One of the more commonly reported metal allergies in dental patients is to nickel, which explains why anyone with known sensitivities to metals would be vulnerable to the side effects of titanium implants. Symptoms to metal implants can vary from patient to patient and often include oral burning sensation, general fatigue, skin rashes, a constant dull pain and in some cases loss of the implant. A paper published in July of 2011 focused on titanium allergy in patients who have undergone an implant, and it concluded in part; “This review of the literature indicates that titanium can induce hypersensitivity in susceptible patients and could play a critical role in implant failure.”

Titanium allergy is rarely documented in mainstream medicine however, it has been reported that about four percent of all patients tested will be allergic to titanium. For those affected with a titanium allergy, the symptoms can be quite intense and somewhat confusing ranging from simple skin rashes to deep muscle pain and overall fatigue – common systems for an immune system that perceives itself under attack.

The known effects of titanium allergy

Like all metals used in the medical field today titanium releases tiny particles as it begins to corrode. In the case of an implant, these metal particles become ions and bind to proteins found naturally throughout the body. In some people the body reacts to metal particles in the same way it does to a virus or other foreign substance and it will try to attack the ‘invader’. This starts a chain reaction which can lead to many symptoms including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Allergy Testing – An Important Part of the Whole

Our unique focus on dental health takes into consideration a patient’s oral health in relation to the whole body, including identifying and treating issues pertaining to allergies and autoimmune disorders.

That is why we consider ceramic dental implants to be the better and safest alternative to metal implants. The advantage of these implants is that they are ceramic, and thus there is no concern of corrosion, allergic reaction or electronic interference.

The Rolls Royce of dental restorations, as close to the real thing as you can get: Ceramic Implants

More Choices than Ever Before

Clients today have a few choices in dentistry when considering types of tooth replacement. From prostheses and bridges to permanent dental implants. For a culmination of reasons implants head the top of the list in regards to preference by both patient and doctor. Implants have medical benefits over other standardized tooth replacement choices but they are also practical, durable and much more pleasing aesthetically.

Ceramic Implants-the Gold Standard: Strong

Currently ceramic implants, also known as zirconium or zirconia, are outpacing other options for tooth replacement at an exponential rate. The material in the implants, Zirconium, in addition to being biologically inert in the human body, and having a high tensile strength (very strong) is considered preferable by many simply because it offers the most real looking tooth replacement option.

Ceramic Implants-the Gold Standard: Beautiful

Since ceramic dental implants can so closely match the look and feel of natural teeth they immediately lend a sense of confidence to the patient. There is no denture to mess with, no embarrassing creams or gels, and no speech issues associated with tooth loss and tooth replacement be it with dentures or other prostheses. There are no restrictions on diet and eating habits, no risk of losing the implant or damaging it while eating. The recipient of a ceramic dental implant also reduces the chance of bone loss in the jaw resulting in the potential of additional dental issues and a diminished jaw-line.

Ceramic Implants-the Gold Standard: Healthy

While the option to use metal implant post, made from titanium, stainless steel or other alloys, for permanent implants can still be performed this option has aesthetic drawbacks. Metal post were the traditional material used in implants for decades; the aesthetic drawbacks included a sliver-grey color to the artificial tooth.

Additionally all white ceramic dental implants will not reveal ugly gray lines like in the case of titanium or other metal implants. In instances of metal implants a distinguishable line is typically seen at base of the new tooth. With Ceramic implants even if soft tissue around the tooth recede, over time, there is no dark metallic line visible at the gum line.

Ceramic Implants-the Gold Standard: Natural

Zirconium, or ceramic implants are virtually indistinguishable from real teeth, they do not absorb stains from food or discolor over time. Ceramic implants can last a lifetime and retain their shape and color for the duration. They can be used in the case of one or a few missing teeth or to anchor other prostheses when appropriate. They support the mouths natural immune system and will not absorb odor, resist plaque and are as easy to maintain as real teeth. They support bone and tissue growth the same way natural bone and teeth do.

Implants are permanent and placing one in such a way that it looks its best and is the most authentic requires a degree of expertise. The placement of permanent implants is a surgical procedure so choosing a skilled doctor with a high degree of expertise is paramount for the best look and feel of your new teeth.

Today the average adult, in America, will face the permanent loss of 3 or more adult teeth in their lifetime. That statistic has been cut in half over the last few decades and modern dentistry has been a big catalyst for the improvement. When an adult tooth is extracted due to injury or decay, the best scenario sees that tooth replaced with a permanent implant, traditionally that has been done with titanium posts.

Restoration services can be performed with a variety of materials. The most common, older versions, were constructed from titanium with a ceramic or other composite ‘cap’ covering the anchor as the replacement “tooth”. With the advent of new materials and new technology titanium and metal implants are gradually becoming old school, being replaced by full ceramic options.

Why Change To Ceramics?

Titanium’s track record shows a long history of strong, resilient wear. Titanium was initially believed to be the perfect material to provide safe, long lasting and strong anchors for tooth restoration. Now, after decades of use, medical information and scientific evidence have uncovered a truth that was unforeseen: Titanium can be toxic when left in the body, it is not inert, corrodes over time, and is not the very effective at promoting tissue regrowth.

Though not all individuals are sensitive to titanium, or metals found in other types of metal implants, the consequences for those who are sensitive can be devastating, potentially life threatening. While the worst reactions remain relatively uncommon, lesser reactions and sensitivities are more common and still of concern.

Ceramics Enter the Dental Community After Years of Use Medically

Enter the full ceramic implant. Ceramic tooth restorations are naturally the whitest and brightest. You will never experience discoloring or the drawback of gum tissues around the base of the ceramic tooth restoration, they are easily the vanity choice. Being the best, most realistic option is nice, but it’s not why they are the new gold standard for dentists everywhere.

For decades the medical community have successfully used ceramics in other parts of the body: Hips, knees, and spine to name a few. The long success of ceramics in surgical implants spelled good news to the dental community. At last an option with more than thirty years of documented success.

Ceramics are bio-inert, making them naturally biocompatible. Ceramic will not corrode, conduct heat or cold, never discolors, and has virtually the same strength as titanium, the old standard. This benefit has been one of the primary factors in dentists preference in ceramics. The biocompatibility equates to long term success and overall improved bone stability and retention in the jaw. Plus a much better retention, or regeneration of soft tissue or gum tissue to support the nearby surrounding healthy teeth.

Ceramic Restorations Raise the Bar

Ceramic restorations are the most compatible with the body’s immune system. They support healthy bone regrowth in areas damaged from trauma or decay, more so than any other option. Restorations from ceramics consistently demonstrate improved bone regrowth, even gingival attachment and regrowth. Since ceramics are so good at promoting hard and soft tissue regrowth it’s of little surprise that they are resistant to corrosion at a much higher standard than their metal counterparts. Ceramics do not absorb into tissues or into the bloodstream and won’t corrode over time. That fact further boosts the desirability of ceramics as a restoration option.

These facts have elevated ceramic tooth restorations to a prime choice for dental practices who put their patients long term health and well being as their number one priority.

If you have questions, would like a consult or are ready to schedule your appointment please contact us.

Good — Better — Best

Best dentistry

Not just your best dentistry choices but virtually all of life has multitudes of good choices. Options abound through the course of any given day. Even when faced with good options there is always “good,” “better,””best” to select from. When we look at options for nutrition, for example, we have healthy options–that are good– and healthy options that are sustainable and organic for our best options. Fitness experts will tell you that consistently getting exercise, even if it’s only 15 vigorous minutes a day, is a good place to start. While optimal best case fitness would be 30 to 60 minutes 3 to 6 times a week depending on your level of fitness. There are good ways to use recreational time and there are “going the distance” recreational enjoyment. Even sleeping has good, better, best; consistently sleeping 7 hours a night is good, getting 8 hours of sleep is better and getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, at a regular time, following a bedtime routine, or meditation, every single night, is best.

What “Best dentistry” means

Medicine and dentistry follow the rest of life, there are always options for good, better, best. We know, after years of evidence, that it all ties in together ultimately affecting your overall health. Science shows us that diet affects our health, diet affects the health of our mouth too. Sleep and even stress levels affect our oral health, not just our bodies. We know there will be cavities, potential tooth loss, restorations, cleanings, braces, prevention, hygiene choices and that all of those have their own set of good, better, best options.

Best overall

At Marilyn K Jones, we know that your optimal health is intertwined with your oral health. We understand that science is continually finding connections to oral health and other disease processes, like diabetes, heart disease, dementia, autoimmune disease, arthritis, cancer and more. Knowing this we carefully choose the kinds of procedures, the materials and the methods we use to keep your teeth and mouth at their best, weather we are filling a cavity, doing a full restoration on a missing tooth, addressing severe gum disease, or simply selecting hygiene products for your best smile.

Metals and how M. K. Jones Best helps you

Our office has a variety of options to hand pick the dental options that will give you the greatest impact, weather checking for sensitivities to metals, or safely removing old hardware, mercury leaching fillings or infections that can be manifesting or hiding out from previous restorations.

Best to avoid

Because we are a biological practice we are acutely aware that less chemicals and less toxins are important to you, your health and to future generations, we have options and educational material to help you eliminate fluoride and other potential hazards from your life.

Good, Better, Best.

Life is a balance, choosing the best choices you can is all any of us can do. Here at Marilyn K. Jones we want to be a part of that and help you get the best that you can. Call us today.

Bad Breath doesn’t discriminate

Ever notice a friend turning away, even while you retell the best parts of your weekend? Of course we have all experienced bad breath and like a lot of people, the first reaction to resolving the problem; up our dental dental hygiene game. Brushing and flossing are key to a healthy mouth that smells fresh and clean but you don’t need to brush after every meal, floss multiple times and use swimming pool amounts of mouthwash to keep from offending friends with halitosis (bad breath).

If you’be been haunted or plagued with chronic, smelly, bad breath, or have that bitter, nasty, morning breath taste in the back of your throat on a regular basis there may be more to it than just oral hygiene.

First you need to tackle the obvious contributors;

Get your teeth cleaned by your dentist and hygienist consistently one or more times per year according to your dentist recommendation. This will eliminate contributions to bad breath from pockets of bacterial colonies and decay.

Consider using a tongue scrapper to take one last measure to eliminating bacteria and odor causing detris in your mouth. The bonus is you may start smelling and tasting better than ever before, plus-no bad breath!

Drink plenty of water. Water is what hydrates the body and a well hydrated bodies ensure lots of healthy saliva. Lots of saliva helps wash away the bacterium that typically cause gingivitis, plaque, and yes, bad breath.

Next address dietary contributors;

Obvious contributors to smelly breath like onion, garlic, that extra frothy latte, are easy to identify and hard to say no to, if you must indulge, brush or follow with gum or breath mints.

Eat a varied, healthful diet. Diets especially low in carbohydrates can contribute to bad breath, so excluding foods that can cause inflammation, but adding in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins like nuts or cheese can help mitigate bad breath caused when body chemistry is not ideal.

Sweep your environment for other culprits;

Literally keeping things as tidy and clean as possible can reduce the potential for allergies. Allergies are a big contributor to rhinitis that can contribute to post nasal drip and major halitosis. If your nose gets stuffy, you breath through your mouth a lot, you may have allergy related bad breath.

Keeping dust to a minimum, using air filters, especially hepa filters to get the cleanest air inside your living space.

Introduce a humidifier. Humidifiers can improve the moisture content of air and reduce inflammation in mucus membranes inside the mouth, throat and nose, all of which will help keep the body best able to tackle the kinds of bacteria and inflammation that can cause stinky breath.

Many people also find that flushing their sinuses with a neti pot, daily, significantly reduces pollutants, pollens and other irritants that add to the kind of sinusitis underlying in many cases of chronic sinusitis.

There are other reasons for long term, recurring bad breath that can be related to conditions you may need to see a doctor for. Cracks in teeth, cavities, deviated septums, loose dental restorations, even allergies to the dental restorations you currently have are included in the list of potential culprits. If you have addressed all of the above problems and bad breath persist, call us today for an exam to help you get to the root of the issue. No one should have to live with the uncomfortable embarrassment and stigma that goes along with long term, chronic bad breath.

Don’t forget that alcohol, smoking, some prescription drugs and illnesses can cause bad breath all on their own despite other measures you take to get rid of it.

Biological Dentistry with Dr. Marilyn K. Jones DDS is a one of a kind dental practice in Houston.

As true holistic dentists we perform dentistry that is good for the body as well as the teeth and gums.

The true differences between holistic dentistry and traditional dentistry is philosophical: traditional dentistry is the practice of treating the symptoms in the teeth and gums and attempting to prevent such problems from reoccurring. Holistic dentistry is the practice of treating the underlying problems that cause symptoms in the mouth, attempting to eliminate those problems (and, hence, preventing the symptoms from recurring) while ensuring the work done in the mouth does not have an adverse affect on your overall health.

Studies have concluded a link between gum disease and heart health, diabetes, and pregnancies. However, many dentists are not trained in the long term effects of what dentistry does (or could possibly do) to the whole body. We educate our patients on the importance of overall health and how dentistry can play a role in the overall health. We place emphasis on a more natural or holistic approach to dentistry in order to support total health and ensure the best long term results.

With a unique approach to dentistry, we customize our approach to your biological needs, placing priority on education and long term health. Doctor Marilyn K. Jones DDS primary focus is on ensuring that toxins from prior dental work is safely removed and properly replace with superior products that are biologically compatible, strong, aesthetically pleasing, long lasting and promote ideal, lasting results.

Metal dental implants were originally made out of commercially pure titanium or titanium alloy, providing the only option for implant tooth restoration for many years. After years of study, we now know that placing metallic dental implants and other restorative devices can potentially provoke allergic reactions. One study involving 1,500 patients demonstrated that although rare, titanium allergy could be clearly detected in dental implant patients. One research paper published in 2010 indicated that “…the risk of an allergy to titanium is increased in patients who are allergic to other metals. In these patients, an evaluation of allergy is recommended, in order to exclude any problem with titanium medical devices.” Further research on the subject noted a higher risk of positive allergic reaction was found in patients whose implants failed for no other known reason other than that they had a higher incidence of allergic reaction.

Who cares about allergies?

Metal allergies are suspected by researchers and holistic dentists alike of being one of the most likely culprits behind the growing number of cases of autoimmune diseases in the United States including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Psoriasis, and Scleroderma, Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and many others. A correlation between metal allergies and a weakened immune system suggests that it is not only important but imperative to take the necessary precautions to ensure that patients are biocompatible before allowing any substance or material to be permanently affixed into the mouth.

There’s more to titanium than you might think

Screw and abutments used in dental implants can be made from the same alloy, but frequently a combination of alloys are used including small amounts of nickel and gold. One of the more commonly reported metal allergies in dental patients is to nickel, which explains why anyone with known sensitivities to metals would be vulnerable to the side effects of titanium implants. Symptoms to metal implants can vary from patient to patient and often include oral burning sensation, general fatigue, skin rashes, a constant dull pain and in some cases loss of the implant. A paper published in July of 2011 focused on titanium allergy in patients who have undergone an implant, and it concluded in part; “This review of the literature indicates that titanium can induce hypersensitivity in susceptible patients and could play a critical role in implant failure.”

Titanium allergy is rarely documented in mainstream medicine however, it has been reported that about four percent of all patients tested will be allergic to titanium. For those affected with a titanium allergy, the symptoms can be quite intense and somewhat confusing ranging from simple skin rashes to deep muscle pain and overall fatigue – common systems for an immune system that perceives itself under attack.

The known effects of titanium allergy

Like all metals used in the medical field today titanium releases tiny particles as it begins to corrode. In the case of an implant, these metal particles become ions and bind to proteins found naturally throughout the body. In some people the body reacts to metal particles in the same way it does to a virus or other foreign substance and it will try to attack the ‘invader’. This starts a chain reaction which can lead to many symptoms including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Allergy Testing – An Important Part of the Whole

Our unique focus on dental health takes into consideration a patient’s oral health in relation to the whole body, including identifying and treating issues pertaining to allergies and autoimmune disorders.

That is why we consider ceramic dental implants to be the better and safest alternative to metal implants. The advantage of these implants is that they are ceramic, and thus there is no concern of corrosion, allergic reaction or electronic interference.